GOD IS OUR PROVIDER, NOT AN ATM!

Let there be no mistake about it.  God is definitely our provider.  He said He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He will be with us even until the end of the age.  So all we need to do is just ask Him for what we need and He'll give it to us right? Well sort of...  but here's the problem with that statement.  Do we ever spend time with God telling Him how much we love Him? Do we ever say "Lord I will tell others about you no matter what people think about me!"  Do we ever spend time at home when we're alone and put on worship music and just spend time telling God how wonderful He is? Do we ever stop to help someone on the street who is in need of a savior?  Do we ever give a coat or a meal to a homeless person?  Do we ever pray for someone who is in need that we know of?  Do we ever stop and lend an encouraging word to someone who is going through a storm or do we just say it's not our business? 

If we've never done any of these things then how do we have the right to ask God for anything! "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:36 NIV)The Bible says that we are blessed to be a blessing.  In other words God blesses us so we may turn around and bless others.  But we don't pass the blessing on sometimes to someone who's in trouble.  So then when we get in trouble ourselves what do we do?  We call on God.  What if God treated us like we treat our fellow man?  The Word of God says, "Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:37-40 MSG)  


What is the judgement for denying God's children help?  Jesus said further in verses 41-46: "Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because— I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.' "Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?' "He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.' "Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

Don't treat God like an ATM! We ask Him for money and things just because we gave our "dollar" at church.  But we must reach out for brothers and sisters in love.  Let's show God what we will do with the blessings He grants us.  Let's be the salt and the light to the world and not the bain of someone else's existence.  Let's give away what has freely been given us.  Let's stop treating God like an ATM and develop a heart for other people's souls.  Because if Jesus delays His coming, we want as many souls to come with us as possible.  And when God sees you are a faithful servant over the little you have, I know He will bless you with more so you can do more. 

God bless you!
Robert T Sells

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About the author:

Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.